Lawrence

Lawrence, age 25, has just completed training to start his own Zoona mobile money-transfer business. He is seeking a Kiva loan to kick-start his business operations in Mazabuka, a town in the south of Zambia.

Lawrence describes himself as someone who enjoys interacting with people and learning from others, traits that will be sure to help him thrive as a Zoona agent. He is excited to become a Zoona agent, as this will help him improve his family’s standard of living—an important role in a family of seven.

Lawrence will use his Kiva loan to purchase a Zoona-branded trading booth, from which he will serve customers. The booth will cost him approximately $820 USD. He will also use the money to purchase a mobile phone, a key piece of equipment in running a successful mobile money business.

After high school, Lawrence completed public administration coursework at the University of Zambia. With his Kiva loan, Lawrence hopes he can carry out his contribution to society by employing other Zambian youth in his business.

Additional Information

More information about this loan

This loan is designed for Zoona agents, enabling them to access the working capital they need to process frequent and large mobile money transactions. Loans can also be used to help agents open new transaction booths to serve more customers, increasing the number of Zambians who have access to mobile banking technology.Kiva loans are structured so that a percentage of an agent's monthly revenue is used to repay. Because the exact amount of these repayments is uncertain, we have structured this loan's repayment schedule to include just one payment at the end of the loan term. That said, lenders can expect to receive payments throughout the loan term as this agent earns revenue and pays back the loan.

About Zoona:

Zoona is a mobile money operator that invests in emerging entrepreneurs in Africa who are transforming their communities.

In Africa, there is a tremendous pool of entrepreneurs, business owners, and young people who dream of making money and serving their communities but who are struggling to find the resources and support to reach their full potential.

Zoona offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to build their own businesses and create wealth and employment through mobile payment solutions, financial services, business management tools and support.

The network of Zoona outlets in urban and rural areas enables unbanked and financially excluded individuals the ability to transact in an easy, quick and safe manner with family, friends, and other service providers. This is a step change improvement in countries like Zambia, where the majority of transactions are still conducted in cash and are thus inefficient, insecure, and expensive. Zoona's unique model of enabling emerging entrepreneurs to provide mobile money services to consumers has the potential to significantly push the boundaries of financial inclusion in Africa.